The Grammy Museum and Songwriters Hall of Fame are joining forces to showcase the iconic songs and songwriters that have shaped music history. The new exhibit, 'Tower of Song: Iconic Songwriters & Recordings', will feature artifacts and media connected to legacy songwriters and recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. This is a fascinating development that will allow music fans to engage more deeply with the music of yesterday and today, discovering influences, uncovering context, and connecting with artists and songs in a meaningful way.
One of the highlights of the exhibit is the display of artifacts associated with Prince, Nirvana, Janet Jackson, Herb Alpert, and Earth, Wind & Fire. These items include the LinnDrum and Ensoniq Mosaic synthesizer used by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to create the signature sounds of Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, Neil Diamond's handwritten lyrics for 'Song Sung Blue', Diane Warren's Yamaha DX 7 keyboard, Herb Alpert's trumpet and tape boxes, Kurt Cobain's Mosrite Gospel electric guitar, Miles Davis's red lacquer Martin Committee trumpet, Keith Moon's gold Premier drum kit, Jim Morrison's personal notebook and EV-676 microphone, Frank Sinatra's microphones and sheet music for 'My Way', Allee Willis's original handwritten lyrics for 'September', Bill Withers's acoustic guitar, and Ann Wilson's red tour jacket from a 1977 Heart tour.
The exhibit will also feature an original film featuring Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Alan Menken, Carole King, Warren, and Jam, talking about their creative process and approach to songwriting. Additionally, a digital interactive experience will pose the question: 'What makes this Hall of Fame song great?'
This partnership between the Grammy Museum and Songwriters Hall of Fame is not new. They have previously co-sponsored events such as the Legends-In-The-Round and ChartTopper series, each featuring a gathering of Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees and hit songwriters discussing their careers and performing their songs. Other events have included movie screenings combined with panel discussions.
The 'Tower of Song' exhibit follows the Grammy Museum's third annual Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, which celebrated the 14 recordings inducted into the 52nd class of the Grammy Hall of Fame. This event served as a fundraiser to support the Grammy Museum's national education programs.
In conclusion, the 'Tower of Song' exhibit is a must-see for music fans who want to engage more deeply with the music of yesterday and today. It will provide a unique opportunity to discover influences, uncover context, and connect with artists and songs in a meaningful way. The exhibit will be a fascinating exploration of the iconic songwriters and recordings that have shaped music history.
